Smart Flow Meter: Gravimetric Metering of Dry Bulk Materials

The Coperion K-Tron Smart Flow Meter is used in industries that need reliable metering, registering or monitoring bulk of material flows.

In high rate applications, the Smart Flow Meter provides high accuracy feeding, at very high feed rates of up to 200,000 dm³/hr (7,000 ft³/hr). In addition to a lower purchase cost than a large loss-in-weight feeder, the Smart Flow Meter offers lower maintenace costs and reduced headroom. Two are models available: K-SFM-275-A and K-SFM-350, dependant on application requirements.

Preview animated demonstration: Mass Flow

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Bulk Materials / Characteristics

The Smart Flow Meter has been employed in PE resin pelletizing processes, where the main component, PE powder, is accurately and gently fed into the pelletizing extruder by a Smart Flow Meter. Other process industries include plastics, chemicals, animal feed, cement, coal, glass, aluminum, grain, etc. Typical particle size is approximately 0.02 mm up to 10 mm. The bulk material can consist either of granules, chips or fibers. The flow characteristics of the bulk material must be very good to good.

For complete specifications on this unique mass flowmeter that can work like a feeder, see our Smart Flow Meter catalog page

Design

The Smart Flow Meter has no moving parts. The bulk material flows through two force sensor stations that have no mechanical effect on the material whatsoever. Depending on the operating range, measuring channel A (narrow cross section) or measuring channel B (large cross section) is built in.

Function

The Smart Flow Meter uses the principles of Newtonian physics: F=ma. Bulk material flows by gravity into the upper measuring channel, an inclined chute mounted on a force transducer where the force FR acting perpendicularly on the chute is measured as mass. The bulk material then flows into the lower, vertical channel which determines velocity or acceleration rate (Force FP). From the signals of these two sensors the flow rate is determined per unit of time.

Download Information: Comparison of Measurement Methods for Bulk Solids Flow